Electrolyzing and washing apparatus.



No. 679,476. Patented July so, l90l.

J. F. KELLY.

ELECTROLYZING AND WASHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept. 14, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

IN VENTOR JZ/uziffedy.

BY r

ATTORNEY I No. 679,476. Patented .luIy 30, IQUI.

J. F. KELLY.

ELEGTROLYZING AND WASHING APPARATUS.

(Applicnion filed Sept. 14, 1900.) (No Modal.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 5 Jo/m ifi/rezgg. W

' ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. KELLY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELEOTROLYZING AND WASHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,476, dated July 30,1901.

Application filed September 14, 1900. Serial No. 30,056. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. KELLY,a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electrolyzing and Washing Apparatus,of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to electrolyzing and washing apparatus, especiallythat intended for the production of caustic soda and chlorin from sodiumchlorid, and has for its object to provide an apparatus which shall besimple and efficient in its construction and operation.

The following is a description of apparatus embodying my invention,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1shows a side View, partly in section, of the apparatus; and Fig. 2 showsan end view with portions cut away on the line on, Fig. 1.

Heretofore electrolytic apparatus for the production of caustic soda andchlorin has been made in which the chlorin and sodium have beenseparated from the saline solution, the chlorin escaping in the form ofa gas and the sodium being incorporated to form an amalgam with mercury,after which the mercury has been caused to flow, so as to be exposed forwashing. It has been found that in such apparatus used for this purposethe amalgam in flowing to the washing-chamber has been greatly disturbedand stirred into the uncharged mercury, so as to make it difficult toseparate the sodium therefrom. By my invention, however, an apparatus isprovided in the operation of which this disturbance and mixture of thecharged and uncharged mercury will be prevented, the amalgam remainingpractically undisturbed on the surface of the mercury and being carriedto a point where it will be acted upon directly.

The apparatus consists of anexternal chamber A and an internal invertedchamber B, which divides the chamber into two subchambers connected bypassages around the chamber B. The internal chamber B reaches to and issealed by alayer of mercury O on the bottom of the external chamber Aand constitutes the electrolyzing-chamben It is provided with an inlet Dand an outlet Efor the brine and an outlet F for the gas, also a carbonanode G, electrically connected by the binding-post H to the circuitfrom one terminal of the generator I. The external chamber A is filledwith water and constitutes the washingchamber, the water being keptseparate from the brine in the chamber B by the mercury seal. Themercury is connected to the circuit leading from the other terminal ofthe generator I by the binding-post J and constitutes the cathode. Thechamber B is maintained stationary by supporting-framework, while thechamber A is reciprocated upon tracks K by the pitman L, which isoperated by power applied to the shaft N. Neither the inner chamber northe mercury extends across the entire width of the washing-chamber,enough space being left to permit the water to pass from one subchamberto the other. The mercury is kept in position by the raised portions 0on the bottom of the chamber A.

In the normal operation of the apparatus the mercury surface immediatelyunder the electrolyzing chamber B becomes charged with sodium. If thissodium is not removed in time, secondary reactions occur, which areinjurious to the efficiency of the apparatus. By the slow horizontalmovement of the external chamber A a new surface of mercury iscontinuously brought under the influence of the electrolytic actionwithin the chamber B, and the sodium-charged mercury is exposed to theaction of the washing-water, so producing caustic soda. It will benoticed that the movement of the mercury is in a horizontal plane andthat it is displaced, stirred, or disturbed but little, if at all. Fromthis it results that the amalgam surface is brought practically intactinto direct contact with the washing solution and the sodium more easilyand quickly eliminated than would be the case if the uncharged mercuryand amalgam were thoroughly mixed and incorporated, as in apparatus usedheretofore. In my apparatus practically all the mercury is alternatelycharged and washed, thus utilizing it to the fullest extent. Thereciprocation of the mercury by reason of the momentum which is impartedto it and the complete stopping of the heavy moving fluid at each timethe motion is reversed results in a different and better action thanwould be presan electrolyzing-chamber Within said Washin g-chamber, amercury cathode in said Washing-chamber constituting a seal for saidelectrolyzing chamber, tracks supporting said washing-chamber and acrank and pitm an for imparting to said Washing-chamber a reciprocatingmovement upon said tracks and a forcible reciprocating movement to thebody of said mercury.

3. The combination of a washing-chamber, an electrolyzing-chamberdividing said washing-chamber into two subchambers with means forpermitting the Washing fluid to pass around said electrolyzing-chamber,amercury cathode in said washing-chamber constituting a seal for saidelectrolyzingchamber, means for imparting to said washing-chamber andthe body of the mercury a forcible reciprocating motion, and means forblocking the passage of the mercury around said electrolyzing-chamber.

Signed at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, this 12th day of September, 1900.

JOHN F. KELLY.

Witnesses:

O. G. OHEsNEY, M. L. NIoHoLs.

